https://nextedition.com.ng/2018/12/15/avoid-christmas-weight/

Christmas time all over the world is a time for socials and excesses with weddings, birthdays, house warming, engagements abounding.

It comes with a lot of eating, drinking, partying and then, the inevitable weight gain that follows.

While it is tempting to drink and eat as you enjoy the many social events of the season, it is important also to remember to keep fit and stay healthy.

Counting the calories should be as important now as any other time.

Therefore, if you want to avoid having to deal with the extra weight after the ‘enjoyment,’ there are a few things you can do to ensure you start 2019 in shape.

Come Prepared

In the days leading up to the festivities, try as much as possible to be in the best shape. Eat healthy, exercise and drink your water. Water because most of the events and family gatherings you will go to, there will be lots of drinks that are not of the ‘healthy’ category. If you can cut out such drinks leading up to the peak period it will serve you better. You can start a 5 day food challenge if you want to go even further.

Stick to the diet

There will be plenty treats around Christmas, stick to your diet. Go for the proteins and leave the pastries alone. Choose sides of salad when available and keep your hand out of the chin chin tray. Stick to this in the days leading up to Christmas as well.

Increase fibre in your diet

Go for foods rich in fibre as they keep the digestive system healthy and help to prevent constipation. They also keep you feeling full longer, which will in turn control your food intake.

Foods like whole-wheat bread, Oats, Potatoes, Pears, etc should make an appearance in your diet.

If you want to take it further you can take a fibre supplement as well. It will help minimize the damage of gaining too much.

Consume healthy fats

Like fibre, healthy fats are also key at Christmas time.

Good fats like avocado, olive oil, almonds, etc will not only help you lose fat, but they will build lean muscle mass. They aid with memory function and support a healthy immune system as well.

All these will prepare your body and keep it ‘clean.’

Increase protein intake

Proteins are the building block for a lean body and since the goal is to not add weight, protein intake should increase.